Hawaii

While many students will pick up this entry in the States series for reports, the inviting color photos of Hawaii's picturesque landscape and people make it worthwhile for casual readers as well. The straightforward text begins with Hawaii's location and unusual geographic features, juxtaposing the state's land at sea level with its tall cliffs and active volcanoes. The many maps of Hawaii with major islands and cities identified are especially helpful. The state's history and government, weather, industry, and landmarks are also covered, and bonus online content is signaled throughout. Another section on population describes native Hawaiians and how the state is the most diverse in the nation. Illustrated lists of Hawaii's famous people and state symbols, fast facts, and a time line conclude. A welcoming aloha to this resource.--Leeper, Angela Copyright 2016 Booklist

Gr 4-6-Attractive, full-page photos of each state's most famous and intriguing places are this series's best feature. In a uniform format, the books provide introductory and basic report material. Most topics are covered in a single page, sometimes in a single paragraph. Lengthy photo captions have enough information to supplement the main text. Extras include images of state symbols, physical and political maps, population and climate graphs, short bios of famous people, and a "Fast Facts" section. While the set overall doesn't have much depth or a fresh perspective, it does introduce the landmarks and cultural characteristics that most represent each state's heritage. VERDICT Strong supplemental purchases. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.